Catastrophic disability bath

ABSTRACT

The catastrophic disability bath includes a bath stall formed by a front wall, a rear wall, first and second side walls and a floor. The first side wall has a wall portion and a door. The wall portion and the door are coplanar. The door has a body, a head that extends cross-wise from a first end of the body and a foot that extends from a second end of the body. The foot provides a connection to facilitate rotating the door vertically upwardly and downwardly between an open and closed position, respectively. An actuating device causes the door to move between these positions. When open, the patient enters by a single lateral transfer from a wheelchair. The stall further includes a toilet, a shower and a lavatory mounted therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bathing stall for catastrophically injuredpatients, or patients confined to a wheelchair. More specifically, thebath stall provides a shower, toilet and lavatory that is accessible bythe wheelchair bound patient with a single transfer from the wheelchairthrough an access way provided by a swing-up door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Catastrophically injured patients include those confined to awheelchair, e.g., paraplegics, quadriplegics, amputees, etc. Uponrelease from the hospital, nursing home or other care institution, homefacilities should be modified to allow for proper care of the person aseasily and efficiently as possible. One of the most expensive andtime-consuming modifications necessary to be made to a home is thebathroom. Without a proper bath facility, not only is the person likelyto get inadequate care, but the caregiver is dramatically affected, bothphysically and mentally. This can make family home care virtuallyimpossible, an unfortunate result since the family caregiver can be alifeline for the catastrophically injured and since family home care ismuch less expensive than any institutional care.

Such a bathroom would preferably provide a toilet, shower and lavatorythat is easily accessible to the catastrophically injured person in asingle transfer from the wheelchair. The catastrophic disability bathdescribed herein provides such a bathing area. It is unique in the careof the disabled because it provides a toilet, shower and lavatory in onelocation, all easily accessible by a swing up door, saving many hours oftime by both the patient and the caregiver. This combination toilet,shower and lavatory provides additional time for enjoyment of otheractivities and maintains relationships not possible when the primaryservicing of the disabled consumes all the time and energy of both thepatient and caregiver. For instance, it is common for the disabled tohave toilet accidents, thus the inclusion of the toilet in thecatastrophic disability bath allows for fast and easy clean up of thepatient and the toilet area.

Additionally, the catastrophic disability bath provides a desirable batharea during a transition period, while a bathroom is remodeled. In canbe ordered and installed in a relatively short time period, so that acatastrophically injured person can be timely released frominstitutional care without delay that construction of a remodeledbathroom can cause. Additionally, the catastrophic disability bath canbe installed for permanent use by a catastrophically injured person inany remodeled or new home or other care facility. Importantly, thecatastrophic disability bath in relatively inexpensive and easy toinstall.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The catastrophic disability bath includes a bath stall having a frontwall, a rear wall, first and second side walls and a floor. The firstside wall has a wall portion and a door. The wall portion and the doorare coplanar. The door has a body, a head that extends crosswise from afirst end of the body and a foot that extends from a second end of thebody. The foot presents a pivotal connection for rotation of the doorvertically upwardly and downwardly between an open and closed position,respectively. An actuating device causes the door to move between thesepositions. The stall further includes a toilet, a shower and a lavatorymounted therein. The complete unit is quite compact as fifteen squarefeet (1.4 square meters) of floor area is adequate.

Preferably, the first side wall presents a lip which prevents waterescape from the stall. The door's head has a bottom surface that engagesthe lip and a tongue that extends beyond the bottom surface inengagement with the inner surface of the wall portion adjacent the lipto seal the stall, when the door is in its closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the catastrophic disability bath inaccordance with the present invention, showing the door in its openposition.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the bath of FIG. 1, additionally showing thedoor in hidden lines as it moves to its open position and showing awheelchair wheel in hidden lines positioned as it should be beforetransfer of the patient to the bath.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the bath of FIG. 1 but with the door in itsclosed position and showing a wheelchair patient positioned for transferto the bath FIG. 4 is a side detail view of the bath's door inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front end view of the head of the bath's door of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the head of the bath's door of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The catastrophic disability bath 10 of FIGS. 1-3 includes a system ofpanels that form the front wall 20, rear wall 22, first side wall 24,second side wall 26 and floor 28. Mounted in the bath 10 are a toiletarea 30, shower 32 and lavatory 34. The bath 10 is approximately threefeet (91 cm.) by five feet (152 cm.) or fifteen square feet (1.4 squaremeters) in total area, which is approximately the size of a standardbathroom tub. The panels of the bath 10 are easily assembled to form astand-alone rectangular room and can be installed anywhere in a home orcare facility where the catastrophically disabled live.

The walls 20, 22, 24 and 26 and the floor 28 can be formed ofporcelainized steel, PVC plastic with a foam core, vacuum formed acrylicor molded fiberglass or other suitable material. These materials mayalso be combined depending on the desired material use life orflame-spread and other safety code requirements. The floor 28 istextured to provide non-skid protection.

The first side wall 24 includes a stationary wall portion 40 and aswing-up door 42. The door 42 is basically a cut out of or stamped fromthe side wall 24. The door 42 does not increase the footprint of thebath 10, regardless of the door's position. Thus, the wall portion 40and the door 42 are coplanar and when the door 42 is in its closedposition the wall portion 40 and the door 42 present the firstrectangular side wall 24.

More specifically, the wall portion 40 includes a top surface 44 and acut-out surface 46. The cut-out surface 46 and the door's perimeter arecorrespondingly shaped. When the door 42 is in its closed position, thesurface 46 and the door 42 meet to present the first side wall 24, withthe wall portion's top surface 44 and the door's top surface 48 formingthe top surface of side wall 24. Also, even at its shortest or lowermostpoint, the wall portion 40 presents a lip 49 that helps prevent waterescape.

When the door 42 is in its open position, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, itsconfiguration provides an opening extending from the toilet area 30 tothe bottom of the door 42 with sufficient clearance for a seven-foottall (213 cm.) patient in a seated position to transfer from awheelchair without interference. More specifically, the door 42 includesa main body 50, a foot 52 and a head 54 as best seen in FIGS. 4-6. Thedoor's main body 50 has a first end 56, a second end 58, a top surface60 and a bottom surface 62. The foot 52 extends from the body's firstend 56 adjacent the body's top surface 60 and presents a proximal endportion having an arcuate outer surface 64. Thus, the foot 52 isgenerally a semi-circular proturbance from the body 50. The foot 52includes a horizontally extending throughbore 66 at the center thereof.The throughbore 66 receives a shaft 70 (FIG. 3) which causes the door 42to move upwardly and downwardly in a vertical plane between an openposition as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a closed position as shown inFIG. 3.

The door's head 54 extends crosswise from the second end 58 of the body50. The perimeter of the head 54 includes a top surface 72, an arcuateouter end surface 74, a bottom surface 76, a tongue 78 and an innersurface 80 to present a generally hammerhead configuration in relationto the body 50.

The head's top surface 72 and the body's top surface 60 are coplanar andcontinuous. These top surfaces 60 and 72 present the top surface 48 ofthe door 42.

The head's bottom surface 76 and the tongue 78 present a stepped ornotched configuration. The bottom surface 76 extends parallel to the topsurface 72. The tongue 78 extends outwardly beyond the bottom surface 76immediately adjacent thereto and engages the lip 49 of the first sidewall 24 to provide a seal when the door 42 is in its closed position.This helps prevent any water leakage. The head's inner surface 80extends perpendicularly between the bottom surface 62 and tongue 78 ofthe body 50 and the bottom surface 76 of the head 54.

As seen in FIGS. 1-3, the toilet area 30 is securely mounted adjacentthe rear wall 22, between the side walls 24 and 26. The toilet area 30includes a toilet 84 that is compliant with the Americans withDisability Act (“ADA”) and a bench 86. The toilet 84 is preferablymounted adjacent the first side wall 24 and includes a toilet tank 88with panel access from the top and a toilet seat 90 and toilet lid 92.Typically, the toilet seat 90 is approximately seventeen inches (43 cm.)above the floor 28. The bench 86 extends from next to the toilet seat90, to the second side wall 26 and is substantially coplanar with thetoilet seat 90. Alternatively, the toilet 84 can be centered between theside walls 24 and 26 with two, smaller bench areas on either sidethereof.

The shower 32 is securely mounted to the interior surface of the frontwall 20. The showerhead 96 is detachable or hand held and has a singlelever water control 98 with anti-scald valve controls for safety. Afloor drain 100 extends through the floor 28 beneath the shower 32 inthe corner of the bath 10 adjacent the front wall 20 and the first sidewall 24. Preferably, the bath 10 includes shower surround panels 102,104 and 106 which are easily assembled to and extend upwardly from thefront wall 20, second side wall 26 and rear wall 22, respectively. Theshower surround panels 102, 104 and 106 are formed of plastic or ceramictile tub surround which provides additional wall protection from watersprayed during showers.

The lavatory 34 is securely mounted in a corner of the bath 10 formed bythe front wall 20 and the second side wall 26. The lavatory 34 is ADAcompliant and has a surrounding counter-top 110 which may be formed ofany suitable material. The countertop is substantially triangular(except where the lavatory 34 rests therein) extending between the frontwall 20 and the second side wall 26. The faucet 112 is a single leverADA compliant fixture. The corner location makes the lavatory easilyaccessible from the bench 86 or for a care provider standing outside thebath 10. Finally, the lavatory 34 includes a removable panel 114extending below the counter-top which provides access for servicing thelavatory 34 and protection from potentially hot drainage pipes.

Other accessories can be included. For instance, a medicine cabinet canbe secured to any wall, such as 20 or 26, or to any shower surroundpanel, such as 102 or 104. Lighting can also be installed as desired.

The door 42 may be actuated by a remote controlled, reversible electrictubular motor 120 in line with shaft 70 as seen in FIG. 1. One suchMotor is sold under the name SOMFY® HiPro. (The remote control, notshown, is conventional and may be located wherever convenient, such ason the user's wheelchair, or accessible switching may be provided at asuitable location on wall portion 40.) Motor 120 includes an automaticrelease in case power is lost for manual operation of the door 42.Alternatively, the door 42 can be operated by an electrically poweredlinear actuator 124 as in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The catastrophic disability bath 10 can be shipped in modular form foreasy and quick assembly. The bath 10 can be installed virtuallyanywhere, even in a bedroom if necessary. Installation of the bath 10requires only a corner intersection of two walls, leaving the lavatory34 and the swing-up door 42 accessible for assisting the patient by acaregiver standing outside the bath 10. Once the installation area isplumbed with the necessary water and sewer lines, assembly of the bath10 only takes a few hours. An access panel (not shown) provides accessto the toilet tank 88 and any door opening assembly, such as motor 120or hydraulic damper 124, for easy service thereof.

In use, a catastrophically injured patient 130 positions his wheelchair132 next to the first side wall 24 of the bath 10, as shown in FIG. 3,in lateral alignment with the toilet seat 90. The patient 130 or othercaregiver remotely opens the door 42 of the bath 10. Specifically, themotor 120 rotates the shaft 70 which, in turn, rotates the door 42upwardly from its closed position to its raised position, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The door's vertical motion does not interfere with orobstruct the access to the bath 10 from the wheelchair 13.

Now, with a single lateral transfer of the patient 130 from thewheelchair 132 to the toilet seat 90 of the bath 10, the patient 130 canbe cared for. Grab bars (not shown) can be attached where convenient toassist the transfer of the patient 130. With this single transfer, it isbelieved the caregiver can reduce the time needed to transfer thepatient 130 by two-thirds. The need for a caregiver can even beeliminated. A patient 130 with sufficient upper body strength canindependently access the bath 10 without assistance. The swing-up door42 allows the wheelchair 132 to remain in its parked position and remainpositioned next to the bath 10 for easy accessibility by the patient130.

Upon remotely closing the door 42, the bath 10 provides easyaccessibility to the toilet 30, shower 32 and lavatory 34: an all-in-onelocation for the caregiver to assist the patient 130 or the patient 130to care for himself. This combined toilet 30, shower 32 and lavatory 34give the caregiver and the patient 130 additional time to enjoy otheractivities and maintain relationships otherwise not possible. The bath42 further provides the patient 130 with privacy for performing dailyhygiene while decreasing or eliminating the need for costly caregivers.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention havebeen illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofaras such limitations are included in the following claims and equivalentsthereof.

1. A bath stall unit for accommodating a disabled person, said unitcomprising: a walled structure having a floor therein, and including awall portion providing an access way, a door associated with said wallportion and mounted on said structure for movement upwardly anddownwardly between an open position providing access to said unit, and aclosed position cooperating with said wall portion to close said unit,and a toilet on said floor adjacent said wall portion for transfer of aperson into said unit and onto said toilet when said door is in its openposition.
 2. The bath stall unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidwall portion and said door are substantially coplanar.
 3. The bath stallunit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said toilet has a seat at apreselected level for receiving a person, and wherein said wall portionextends upwardly to substantially said level, said door closing againstsaid wall portion in said closed position of the door.
 4. The bath stallunit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said wall structure and said floorcooperate to provide a stand-alone room presenting said unit, andwherein said door is mounted for swinging movement about a generallyhorizontal axis between said open and closed positions thereof.
 5. Thebath stall unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said axis is behind saidtoilet, and wherein said door is configured and arranged to swingupwardly clear of said wall portion to permit lateral transfer of aperson onto said toilet.
 6. The bath stall unit as claimed in claim 1,wherein said wall portion includes a lip extending upwardly from saidfloor to prevent water escape from said unit.
 7. The bath stall unit asclaimed in claim 6, wherein a head portion of said door has a bottomsurface that engages said lip and a tongue that extends beyond saidbottom surface in engagement with said lip to seal said unit when saiddoor is in its closed position.
 8. The bath stall unit as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said door has an elongated body portion, a head portionextending transversely from a first end of said body portion, and a footportion extending from a second end of said body portion, and whereinmeans is provided at said foot portion to mount said door to saidstructure for swinging movement of said door between said open andclosed positions thereof.
 9. The bath stall unit as claimed in claim 1,wherein said wall structure includes a pair of opposed walls, saidtoilet being disposed adjacent one of said walls, and wherein said unitfurther comprises a lavatory across from said toilet adjacent the otherof said walls.
 10. The bath stall unit as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid wall structure includes a pair of opposed walls, said toilet beingdisposed adjacent one of said walls, and wherein said unit furthercomprises a shower across from said toilet adjacent the other of saidwalls.